After finishing an overnight shift, a worker clears the snow from his car at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

After finishing an overnight shift, a worker clears the snow from his car at the U.S. Capitol in Washington March 17, 2014. A winter storm landed a final punch on the U.S. mid-Atlantic states on Monday just days before spring begins, dumping more than a foot (30 cm) of snow in some places, shutting schools and federal offices and cancelling flights. The winter storm shut down federal offices in the nation's capital, and dozens of schools in the area also remained closed. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ENVIRONMENT)

Winter storm blasts U.S. mid-Atlantic days before spring

A winter storm landed a final punch on the U.S. mid-Atlantic states on Monday just days before spring begins, dumping more than a foot of snow in some places, shutting schools and federal offices and cancelling flights.

Traditional green worn on St. Patrick's Day was hidden under the winter coats of children enjoying one more sledding day and of road crews manning plows days ahead of the official start of spring on Thursday. (Reuters)